Adsorption of Escherichia coli from landfill leachate using Dredged marine soils as Geosorbent: The influence of temperature

Abstract The heat generated by biodegradation in landfill site led to an increase in landfill temperature. This phenomenon considered to be a consequence of the heat generated by the biodegradation process. The increasing temperature is one of the stress factors for the bacteria in the landfill site. This factor will interfere with the cell’s metabolism and suppress the bacteria to grow. The focus of this study is to look into the influence of temperature on the adsorption of Escherichia coli (E. coli) from landfill leachate using a geosorbent. The geosorbent was made from Dredged Marine Soils (DMS). The application of geosorbent as landfill liner could potentially entrap and reduce the pathogenic bacteria in leachate. Least number of E. coli was found in the landfill leachate at high-temperature degree. Concurrently a high number of E. coli was counted in the geosorbent. Findings from this study supported the idea that E. coli growth in landfill leachate was suppressed by the increment of the temperature. As a result, E. coli developed strategies to respond against this environmental stress. The E. coli shifted from landfill leachate to the geosorbent seeking for protection. In general, the geosorbent using DMS material demonstrated the ability to adsorb bacteria at varied temperature degree.